"Katherine Kurtz - Kelson 4 - King Kelson's Bride" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kurtz Katherine)

Arjenol and a younger brother of its duke, Mahael, who was
seated across from him. The latter was one of the regents of
Torenth, and both men were kin by marriage to the woman
who had summoned them to this meeting at domed
Torenth├бly, country seat of Torenth's kings.
The Princess Morag Furst├бna, widowed sister of the late
King Wencit of Torenth, was standing in the opening of a
long, brass-trellised window that looked westward across
rolling fields, lush and verdant in the brightness of a sultry
June afternoon. Co-regent with Mahael, she was also the
mother of the previous king, of the said Liam-Lajos, who
was the present king, and of Prince Ronal Rurik, the ten-
year-old heir presumptive.
тАЬIf you are telling me that Liam-Lajos soon must wed, I
think it premature,тАЭ she said quietly, hooking the be-ringed
fingers of one hand through the brass grillwork.
тАЬPremature?тАЭ said Teymuraz. тАЬHe is fourteen, two
months into his majority. And the precarious nature of his
situation does put a certain urgency on the matter.тАЭ
She turned to look at him. The dappled sunlight filtering
through the pierced brass set aglow the gauzy folds of veil
and trailing sleeve and touched with fire the bands of gold



1
think he alludes to four more years of his own regency, if it
were necessary for Liam-Lajos to give way to Ronal Rurik.
We are all of us aware that Mahael harbors no ambition of
his own regarding the throne.тАЭ
Mahael feigned languid interest in a massive seal ring that
he wore on his left forefinger, dark eyes heavy-lidded as his
thumb absently caressed the design cut into the murky
bloodstone.
тАЬI would not see either of my nephews come to harm,тАЭ he
said neutrally, тАЬbut if any had a right to wield the might of
Furst├бn after them, it would be myself.тАЭ
тАЬNo one disputes either part of that statement,тАЭ Morag
said briskly, coming to sit between them. тАЬIt is an unnatural
mother who does not wish success for her sons; but not
having seen my elder one for several years, I cannot, as
regent, speak for his readiness to rule this kingdom. We do
not know how he may have been tainted by contact with the
court of Gwynedd. He has had his training from Duke Nigel
Haldane, who has ever been a fierce and loyal advocate for
Gwynedd's interestsтАФwhich rarely coincide with Torenth's
interests. And I like it not that, as a condition of his return,
we must en-